Method and apparatus for efficient data browsing

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus for providing improved efficiency in data browsing is disclosed. Automatic continuation of a data browsing session is enabled, while a download of a requested data file, that has been temporarily delayed, is handled separately in a background process. This separate background process generates additional requests for the requested data file as needed, thereby overcoming delays caused by transient network traffic and also enabling automatic downloading of data files that are undeliverable when first requested. When the download of the requested data file is successfully completed, a notification is provided and the requested data file is made observable.

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 09/591,796,filed Jun. 12, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,675,212.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to data browsing systems and,more particularly, to systems and methods for improving data browsingefficiency in computer implemented data browsing systems.

2. Related Art

Data browsing is a common form of information review. While conductingresearch in one text, an individual may come across a reference toanother text, article or other source of information, which appearspertinent to the task at hand. The individual then retrieves thereferenced text to review, while saving his place in the original text.While reviewing the referenced text, the individual can then repeat theprocess or return to the original text. In the traditional world ofphysical books and libraries, this data browsing process is laborintensive and time consuming.

With the development of computer networks and hyperlinked electronicdata, data browsing has become simpler, faster and more effective.Hyperlinked data is data that includes additional information, whichreferences a location of another data file or data object. By selectinga particular piece of hyperlinked data, such as by pointing to it with acursor and pressing a button, a user of a data browsing system, causesthe referenced data file or data object to be retrieved arid presentedto the user. While the concept of hyperlinked data is applicable to manytypes of data retrieval systems, the most common application today is onthe Internet and the World Wide Web.

The Internet is a computer network made up of nodes spanning the entireglobe. A node can be a multi-purpose computer, a computer network, orany machine capable of communicating using Internet Protocol, such asrouters, bridges and dumb terminals Host computers or networks ofcomputers on the Internet allow easy access to electronic services andinformation. Hosts can be sponsored by a wide range of entitiesincluding, for example, universities, government organizations,commercial enterprises and individuals.

Internet information and services are made available to the publicthrough servers running on Internet hosts. Although a server is,strictly speaking, the software that resides on a host, an Internet hostis also commonly referred to as a server because this is the function itperforms. An individual using a computer connected to the Internet canaccess a very large amount of information by running client software,which requests data from the large number of servers connected to theInternet.

Like most modern computer networks, the Internet is based on packetswitching. Thus when a data file is sent over the Internet, it is brokenup into segments, or “packets”, of data, and each packet is handledseparately. Each packet of data has its own routing informationcontained in a header.

As a system of linked computers, the Internet relies on networkingprotocols to function. Networking protocols facilitate communicationsbetween servers and requesting clients. Internet Protocol (“IP”) is onesuch networking protocol. Computers on an IP network utilize unique IDcodes, allowing each node on the network to be uniquely identified.

IP was developed during the Cold War with sponsorship from the UnitedStates military. It was designed to enable a communications network tofunction even during a nuclear war; thus it was designed to be robust.IP allows multiple routes between any two points, and has built inmechanisms to route data packets around damaged portions of the network.However, because there are multiple routes between two points and thefastest route can change over time (depending on variable factors suchas the amount of traffic on the network), the packets that make up aparticular data file may not all take the same route through the networkand may not arrive at their destination in the order they were sent. Infact, some packets may be lost altogether due to difficulties with thenetwork.

In part to solve this problem, additional network protocol layers areplaced on top of IP. The layer placed just above IP is traditionallycalled the transport layer. A common example of a transport layerprotocol is Transport Control Protocol (“TCP”). TCP allows the sourceand destination computers on an IP network to acknowledge receipt ofpackets, request retransmission of lost packets and put packets back intheir proper order.

The World Wide Web (“Web”) is based on the combination of a standardizedhypertext script language for defining the semantic value of data, suchas hypertext markup language (“HTML”), and a hypertext transferprotocol, such as “HTTP”. HTTP is designed to run primarily over TCP/IP.HTTP uses the standard Internet setup, where a server issues the dataand a client displays or processes it using a web browser. This data canbe in many forms including text, pictures, sound and software. Becausethe Web uses hypertext (information that defines the semantic value ofdata with which it is associated), it is very easy to create hyperlinkeddata on the Web.

The Web provides access to information on the Internet, allowing a userto navigate Internet resources intuitively, using a graphical userinterface, without specific knowledge of IP addresses and otherspecialized information. The Web comprises millions of data files,frequently referred to as “web pages”, connected by hyperlinks. Theseweb pages can be downloaded and displayed on a user's computer monitor.Hosts running web servers provide these web pages. Web server softwareis relatively simple and available on a wide range of computerplatforms, including standard personal computers. Equally available isweb browser software, which is used to request and display web pages andother types of data files to users. Thus the combination of theInternet, the Web and web browsers has created the largest and mostcomprehensive data browsing system known to date.

The growth of the Web has been exponential in recent years. Moreelectronic data and hyperlinks are added to the Web every day. Thisexponential growth has turned the Internet into a vast library, enablingindividuals to research a nearly endless number of subjects and ideasusing this data browsing system. In fact, the ease with which the Webcan be used to browse data, allowing a person to jump from one topic toa sub-topic to another topic and back, has given rise to the new term“web surfing.” In essence, web surfing is data browsing in which thegoal is to find interesting information instead of particularinformation.

Despite the easy access to information created by modern computernetworks, there remains a significant problem with current data browsingsystems. The problem derives from delays in data delivery. When anindividual using a data browsing apparatus, such as a web browserrunning on a computer connected to the Internet, selects a hyperlink ona data page, the data browsing apparatus transmits a request for thedata file associated with the selected hyperlink. If the requested datafile is currently undeliverable, or if no response is received to thedata request within a specified time, the data browsing apparatusdisplays an error message identifying the nature of the problem, therebyobscuring the data page that contains the hyperlink. Moreover, thiserror message is displayed even if the requested data file is onlytemporarily unavailable, such as when the server is currently handlingits limit of requesting clients.

In addition, if the requested data file is deliverable, but thatdelivery is slow due to network traffic, the data browsing apparatusdisplays the data in the requested data file as it is received, therebyobscuring the data page that contains the hyperlink. Thus, traditionaldata browsing apparati interrupt the data browsing session whenever arequested data file is currently unavailable, such as when high networktraffic causes a slow download, a lost data request or a busy server.

Some data browsing apparati allow the individual to request a data filevia a hyperlink in a new instance of the apparatus' user interface. Forexample, most web browsers allow a user to right click on a hyperlinkand select the option, “Open in New Window.” However, this does notsolve the problem. The new window is opened on top of the existingwindow, thereby obscuring the data page that contains the hyperlinkuntil the user reselects the original window. Moreover, if the requesteddata file is currently undeliverable, or if no response is received tothe data request within the specified time, an error message isdisplayed in the new window even though the requested data file may beonly temporarily unavailable.

With web users and network traffic increasing exponentially, thelikelihood that one will receive an error message associated with a lackof response to a data request or servers being too busy, unavailable,updating, etc. grows. Usually, these messages simply tell you to hit‘Refresh’ again (i.e. manually re-request the data file) until the website loads, but often this doesn't work right away, especially atcrucial e-commerce periods such as Christmas. In addition, as networktraffic and the sizes of data files increase, the likelihood that arequested data file will take a significant amount of time to download,thus interrupting a data browsing session, also grows.

Therefore, what is needed is a system and method for efficient databrowsing that allows a user to automatically continue with a databrowsing session, and automatically receive a requested data file, whenthe requested data file's download is temporarily delayed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed toward a method and apparatus forefficient data browsing.

The present invention enables automatic continuation of a data browsingsession when a download of a requested data file is temporarily delayed.Data requests are actively monitored for excessive delay in a downloadof a requested data file. When an excessive delay is detected, thenature of the delay is identified as either temporary or long term. Whenthe delay is identified as temporary, the download of the requested datafile is handled by a separate monitoring task, set to run in thebackground, while active control of the data browsing session isreturned to a user, via a user interface displaying anoriginally-displayed data file.

According to one aspect of the present invention, a user is notifiedwhen a download has been backgrounded, thereby alerting the user thatdata browsing can continue and the requested data file will be presentedas soon as it is downloaded. According to one aspect of the presentinvention, the separate monitoring task is performed in a separateinstance of the user interface. This separate instance is readilyavailable for viewing, but is initially placed below the active instanceof the user interface displaying the originally-displayed data file.

The present invention enables automated generation of additional datarequests for a requested data file when the data file is temporarilyunavailable. Responses to data requests are actively monitored forindications that the requested data file is only temporarilyunavailable. When such indications are found, an additional data requestfor the requested data file is automatically generated after a period oftime. By repetition of this automated process, a temporarily unavailabledata file is downloaded as soon as it becomes available.

According to one aspect of the present invention, the period of timevaries between each additional data request, thereby minimizingexcessive network traffic. According to yet another aspect of thepresent invention, additional data requests are generated for arequested data file that is slow to download, thereby improving deliverytime when delivery is delayed due to transient network congestion.According to yet another aspect of the present invention, additionaldata requests are generated for a requested data file for which noresponse has been received, thereby enabling successful downloadingdespite short-lived network problems.

According to one aspect of the present invention, a user is notifiedonce a requested data file's download, which was temporarily delayed, iscomplete. In this fashion, the present invention enriches the databrowsing experience by eliminating the need to personally monitor theresults of various requests for data files. Additionally, in a preferredembodiment of the separate user interface instance embodiment of thepresent invention, the notification aspect of the present inventionbrings the separate instance to the foreground and places it underactive control of the user, thereby allowing browsing of the requesteddata file immediately upon completion of the download.

Further features and advantages of the invention as well as thestructure and operation of various embodiments of the invention aredescribed in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a block diagram depicting an exemplary data browsing apparatusconnected with its operational environment according to one embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a graph illustrating four general situations in which theefficiency of a data browsing session can be improved according to apreferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 3A, 3B, 3C and 3D are a flow chart depicting a process, whichenables efficient data browsing, according to a preferred embodiment ofthe present invention; and

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an example computer system inwhich elements and functionality of the invention are implementedaccording to one embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed toward a system and method forimproving data browsing efficiency in computer implemented data browsingsystems. The present invention is disclosed and described herein interms of a data browsing apparatus utilizing the Internet and the WorldWide Web. Description in these terms is provided for ease of discussiononly. After reading this description, it will become apparent to one ofordinary skill in the art how to implement the invention in alternativeembodiments and alternative network environments. For example,alternative embodiments include a multi-purpose computer running a webbrowser, and a dumb terminal running library database browsing software.Alternative network environments include any “Future Net” which willlikely encompass the functions now provided by today's Internet, cableand broadcast television, telephone communications and other linear andinteractive business and telecommunications systems, and any collectionof electronic devices connected by communication means so as to allowdata retrieval and review. As such, the description of this exampleembodiment should not be construed to limit the scope and breadth of thepresent invention.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram depicting an exemplary data browsing apparatusconnected with its operational environment according to one embodimentof the present invention. Referring now to FIG. 1, a data browsingapparatus 100 is connected to a network 150, which in this exampleembodiment is the Internet, via a channel 124. This channel 124 carriessignals 128 and can be implemented using wire or cable, fiber optics, aphone line, a cellular phone link, a radio frequency (RF) link, infraredinterface (IR) or other communications channels. Signals 128 are datafiles requested by the data browsing apparatus 100, as well ascommunication protocol information used in obtaining the data files vianetwork 150.

The data browsing apparatus 100 includes a central processor (“CPU”)104, a network interface 108, a main memory 112, a user interface 116and a display 120. Network interface 108 provides a connection betweenthe data browsing apparatus 100 and the network 150. Network interface108 receives the signals 128, thereby providing the CPU 104 with accessto data and code in a manner that is well-known and commonly used incomputer systems. In this example embodiment, network interface 108includes control logic allowing requesting and receiving of data filesvia network 150 and downloading of user interface 116 upon power up ofthe data browsing apparatus 100.

Main memory 112 provides CPU 104 with access to storage for data andcode, including user interface 116, in a manner that is well-known andcommonly used in computer systems. User interface 116 represents anoperating system for the data browsing apparatus 100, and allows a userto request data files via hyperlinks presented on display 120.

While the above embodiment describes a dumb terminal acting as the databrowsing apparatus 100, those skilled in the relevant art(s) willrealize that the functionality described herein can be implemented in awide variety of computer systems, including a multi-purpose computerrunning a web browser.

FIG. 2 is a graph illustrating four general situations in which theefficiency of a data browsing session can be improved according to apreferred embodiment of the present invention. Referring now to FIG. 2,a data browsing apparatus 200 is physically separated from, but incommunicative contact with, a data server 204, as illustrated by aphysical separation axis 212. Data server 204 is coupled with a database208. A time axis 216 illustrates the directional flow of time in each offour situations 220, 240, 260 and 280.

In a first situation 220, a connection request 222 is generated by thedata browsing apparatus 200 and transmitted to the data server 204, butno response is returned by the data server 204. This lack of responsecan be due to any number of reasons, including a temporary malfunctionof data server 204 and a loss of connection request 222 during itstraversal of physical separation 212. First situation 220 represents acase in which the present invention can be used to improve theefficiency of a data browsing session.

In a second situation 240, a connection request 242 is generated by thedata browsing apparatus 200 and transmitted to the data server 204, aconnection is established by a connection response 244 generated by thedata server 204 and sent to the data browsing apparatus 200, a datarequest 246 is generated by the data browsing apparatus 200 andtransmitted to the data server 204, but no response is returned by thedata server 204. This lack of response can be due to any number ofreasons, including a temporary malfunction of data server 204, a loss ofdata request 246 during its traversal of physical separation 212, and anunreasonable delay in delivery of data request 246 due to transientcongestion of the communicative contact means between data browsingapparatus 200 and data server 204. Second situation 240 represents acase in which the present invention can be used to improve theefficiency of a data browsing session.

In a data browsing system in which data browsing apparatus 200 and dataserver 204 are maintained in a state of communicative connection as wellas communicative contact, no connection request 222 or connectionrequest 242 are needed. In this data browsing system, first situation220 does not exist. Because first situation 220 and second situation 240are handled in essentially the same manner, they will be treated as onesituation, a lack of response situation, hereinafter.

In a third situation 260, a connection request 262 is generated by thedata browsing apparatus 200 and transmitted to the data server 204, aconnection is established by a connection response 264 generated by thedata server 204 and sent to the data browsing apparatus 200, a datarequest 266 is generated by the data browsing apparatus 200 andtransmitted to the data server 204, a denial response 268 is generatedby the data server 204 and transmitted to the data browsing apparatus200. The denial response 268 indicates that the refusal to deliver therequested data file is only temporary. For example, denial response 268may indicate that the data request 266 has been accepted and is beingprocessed, and the data server 204 will deliver the requested data fileat a later time, or the denial response 268 may indicate that the dataserver 204 is temporarily unable to handle the data request 266, perhapsdue to overloading or maintenance. Third situation 260 represents a casein which the present invention can be used to improve the efficiency ofa data browsing session.

In a fourth situation 280, a connection request 282 is generated by thedata browsing apparatus 200 and transmitted to the data server 204, aconnection is established by a connection response 284 generated by thedata server 204 and sent to the data browsing apparatus 200, a datarequest 286 is generated by the data browsing apparatus 200 andtransmitted to the data server 204, and a data response 288 is returned.However, although data response 288 begins a download of the requesteddata file, the download is exceptionally slow, most likely due tocongestion of the communicative contact means between data browsingapparatus 200 and data server 204. Fourth situation 280 represents acase in which the present invention can be used to improve theefficiency of a data browsing session.

Although FIG. 2 illustrates four general situations in which the presentinvention is applicable, it will be understood by those of skill in therelevant art(s) that the present invention is useful in any situation inwhich a data browsing session is delayed due to a temporary delay indelivery of a requested data file.

FIGS. 3A, 3B, 3C and 3D are a flow chart depicting a process, whichenables efficient data browsing, according to a preferred embodiment ofthe present invention. Referring now to FIG. 3A, the process begins withstep 302 in which data requests generated by the data browsing apparatusare monitored. In a preferred embodiment, the user of the data browsingapparatus is enabled to control the application of monitoring step 302.

For example, in one embodiment, the user can select and deselect anoption that applies the monitoring step 302 universally to all datarequests generated by the data browsing apparatus. In another exemplaryembodiment, the user can individually select which data requests towhich the monitoring step 302 is applied, such as by right clicking on ahyperlink, thereby opening a drop down menu that includes the twooptions, “Open Link with Background Option” and “Open Link in New Windowwith Background Option”, or by clicking a special “Background Refresh”button on a tool bar. One skilled in the relevant art(s) will understandthe wide range of options available for providing the user of the databrowsing apparatus the ability to control the application of themonitoring step 302 given the disclosure herein.

In step 304, the process checks if a download of a data file requestedby a data request being monitored in step 302 is delayed. The datarequest is identified as delayed in step 304 if any of three eventsoccur: (1) no response is received within a reasonable time, (2) aresponse is received that indicates the requested data file will not bedelivered immediately, or (3) a response is received that indicates therequested data file will be delivered, but the download of the requesteddata file is not completed within a reasonable time. When no delay isidentified in step 304, control loops back to step 302. When a delay isidentified in step 304, control passes to step 308.

In a preferred embodiment, the reasonable time frames for events one andtwo above are separately programmable by the user and have a default ofsix seconds. However, the reasonable time frames for alternativeembodiments vary with the nature of the network and the networkconnection.

Step 308 checks if the delay is temporary. If the delay is nottemporary, such as when access to the requested data is forbidden,control passes to step 302. If either event one (“no response”) or eventthree (“slow download”) have occurred, the delay is consideredtemporary, and control then passes to step 310. If event two (“denialresponse”) has occurred, step 308 checks for a reason for the denialwithin the response received. Reasons that indicate a future requestwill result in delivery of the data file, such as “request accepted andbeing processed” or “service temporarily unavailable”, are consideredtemporary, and control then passes to step 310. If no reason is given,this is also considered a temporary delay, and control passes to step310.

In a preferred embodiment, the user of the data browsing apparatus isenabled to program which delays are considered temporary in step 308. Inanother embodiment, the data browsing apparatus is capable ofdownloading definitions of which delays are considered temporary, instep 308, from the network.

When the download delay is determined temporary in step 308, controlpasses to step 310 in which a new instance of the user interface isgenerated if needed. If the user has already created a new instance ofthe user interface as part of the data request, then an additionalinstance of the user interface is not needed, and step 310 is skipped.If a new instance of the user interface has not already been created,step 310 creates one in which to display the requested data file. In apreferred embodiment, the user can select an option by which step 310 isalways skipped, thereby making an original instance of the userinterface the place to display the requested data file once it iscompletely downloaded.

In an alternative embodiment, step 310 does not exist because there canonly be one instance of the user interface. Thus, in this alternativeembodiment, the single instance of the user interface will be used todisplay the requested data file once it is completely downloaded. In yetanother alternative embodiment, step 310 does not exist because a newinstance of the user interface in which to display the requested datafile is only created if the requested data file is successfullydownloaded.

Following step 310, control passes to step 312, in which a separatemonitoring task is spawned to monitor the download of the requested datafile in a background portion of the user interface. The background is aprocess space in which the functionality described in steps 312 to 382(excluding the notifying steps) is carried out without the user beingactively aware of the functions being performed. This spawned monitoringtask can be an actual separate process or multi-tasking functionalitybuilt into the process disclosed herein. If a new instance of the userinterface was created by step 310, or by the data request, this newinstance is used to display the progress of the download performed bythe separate monitoring task. Those of skill in the relevant art(s) willunderstand how to implement this separate monitoring task given thedisclosure herein.

Following step 312, control passes to step 314 in which continued databrowsing is enabled and the user is notified of the spawned monitoringtask performing the download in the background. If a new instance of theuser interface has been created, the original instance of the userinterface is brought to the foreground and placed under the user'sactive control in step 314. In a preferred embodiment, the user isenabled to switch between observing the continued data browsing task orthe spawned monitoring task.

Also following step 312, control of the spawned monitoring task passesto step 316 in which the process checks whether a new data request isneeded. If the data request resulted in a denial response, controlpasses to step 380 on FIG. 3D. Otherwise, control passes to step 318.

In step 318, the process checks whether a download is currentlyproceeding. If so, control passes to step 360 on FIG. 3C. Otherwise,control passes to step 320.

In step 320, the process checks whether a response has been received. Ifnot, control passes to step 322 in which the process checks whether aspecified time has elapsed. The specified time allows the process tostop waiting for a response in the no response case, thereby avoidingthe risk of an endless loop caused by a lost data request. In apreferred embodiment, the specified time varies with the number of datarequests sent to a particular data server. While a response has not beenreceived and the specified time has not elapsed, the process stays insteps 320 and 322. If the specified time elapses before a response isreceived, this situation is identified in step 322, and control passesto step 340 on FIG. 3B. If a response is received before the specifiedtime elapses, this situation is identified in step 320, and controlpasses to step 324.

In step 324, the process checks the response to determine if a temporarydelay continues to exist. If the response indicates that the requesteddata file is now being delivered, control passes back to step 316. Ifthe response indicates that the requested data file will not bedelivered immediately, step 324 checks for a reason for the denialwithin the response. Reasons that indicate a future request will resultin delivery of the data file, such as “request accepted and beingprocessed” or “service temporarily unavailable”, are consideredtemporary, and control then passes back to step 316. If no reason isgiven, this is also considered a temporary delay, and control passesback to step 316. If the delay is not temporary, such as when access tothe requested data is forbidden, control passes to step 326.

In a preferred embodiment, the user of the data browsing apparatus isenabled to program which responses are considered continuing delays instep 324. In another embodiment, the data browsing apparatus is capableof downloading definitions of which responses are considered continuingdelays, in step 324, from the network.

In step 326, the user is notified of the failure to obtain the requesteddownload, and the separate monitoring task is terminated. If a newinstance of the user interface was created in which to display therequested data file, this new instance is brought to the foreground andgiven active control in step 326. However, in a preferred embodiment,the user can disable this functionality, and also program the presentinvention to eliminate the new instance of the user interface in step326, if that new instance was created by step 310.

Referring now to FIG. 3B, step 340 is reached when step 322 identifiesthe situation in which the specified time for a response elapses beforea response is received. In step 340, the process terminates the datarequest by sending a termination request to the particular data server.In an alternative embodiment, step 340 is unnecessary because the datarequest and each new data request for the data file are monitored by theseparate monitoring task, thus as soon as a response is received, thisresponse is processed and later received responses are ignored.

In step 342, the process checks whether a maximum number of new requestshas been exceeded without a response. If so, control passes to step 344.If not, control passes to step 346 in which a new request for the datafile is generated and sent to the particular data server. Following step346, the process adds one to the new request count for the no responsecase, before returning to step 320 on FIG. 3A.

In a preferred embodiment, the maximum number of new requests used instep 342 is programmable by the user.

When step 344 is reached from step 342, the user is notified of thefailure to obtain the requested download due to the lack of responsefrom the particular data server, and the separate monitoring task isterminated. If a new instance of the user interface was created in whichto display the requested data file, this new instance is brought to theforeground and given active control in step 344. However, in a preferredembodiment, the user can disable this functionality, and also programthe present invention to eliminate the new instance of the userinterface in step 344, if that new instance was created by step 310.

Referring now to FIG. 3C, step 360 is reached when step 318 determinesthat a download is currently proceeding. In step 360, the process checkswhether the download is complete. If so, control passes to step 362. Ifnot, control passes to step 364. In step 364, the process checks theprogress of the download. If the download is progressing with sufficientalacrity, control passes back to step 360. Otherwise, control passes tostep 366. Thus, steps 360 and 364 function as a monitor of the speed ofthe download.

When the download is progressing too slowly, this is identified in step364 and control passes to step 366 in which the download is terminated.Following step 366, a new request for the data file is generated andsent to the particular data server in step 368, before control returnsto step 320 on FIG. 3A.

Steps 364 through 368 are designed to handle a common situation on IPcomputer networks in which the packets of a data stream have chosen apoor route through the network due to a transient network anomaly. Whenthis occurs, it is often better to terminate an existing download andre-request the same data. However, in alternative embodiments of thepresent invention, steps 364 through 368 are unnecessary, and theprocess simply waits in step 360 until the download is complete, beforeprogressing to step 362.

In another embodiment of the present invention in which steps 364through 368 are used, the process checks in step 368 whether therequested data file consists of discrete sub-elements. If so, step 368identifies which discrete sub-elements have not yet been received, andthe new request generated and sent in step 368 is actually one or morenew requests for the discrete sub-elements so identified.

In step 362, the user is notified of the successful download, and theseparate monitoring task is terminated. If a new instance of the userinterface was created in which to display the requested data file, thisnew instance is brought to the foreground and given active control instep 362, thereby displaying the requested data file. If no new instanceof the user interface was created, step 362 notifies the user of thesuccessful download by displaying the data file via the user interface,or alternatively, by providing an option to display the data file viathe user interface. In another alternative embodiment in which no newinstance of the user interface has yet been created, step 362 notifiesthe user of the successful download by creating a new instance of theuser interface, displaying the data file therein, and either brings thenew instance of the user interface to the foreground with active controlor not.

Referring now to FIG. 3D, step 380 is reached when step 316 determinesthat a new data request is needed. In step 380, the process checkswhether a maximum number of new requests after a denial response hasbeen exceeded. If so, control passes to step 382. If not, control passesto step 384 in which a variable time is allowed to pass beforeproceeding to step 386. If the response received specified a time afterwhich to re-request the data file, the variable time is set to thatspecified time. Otherwise, the variable time increases with the numberof new requests that have already been generated in response tosuccessive denial responses. In a preferred embodiment, the variabletime increases exponentially to reduce network traffic and avoidrepetitive overloading of the particular data server. Also in apreferred embodiment, the maximum number of new requests after a denialresponse is programmable by the user.

After step 384, a new request for the data file is generated and sent tothe particular data server in step 386. Following step 386, the processadds one to the new request count for the denial response case, beforereturning to step 320 on FIG. 3A.

When step 382 is reached from step 380, the user is notified of thefailure to obtain the requested download due to excessive denialresponses from the particular data server, and the separate monitoringtask is terminated. If a new instance of the user interface was createdin which to display the requested data file, this new instance isbrought to the foreground and given active control in step 382. However,in a preferred embodiment, the user can disable this functionality, andalso program the present invention to eliminate the new instance of theuser interface in step 382, if that new instance was created by step310.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an example computer system inwhich elements and functionality of the invention are implementedaccording to one embodiment of the present invention. The presentinvention may be implemented using hardware, software or a combinationthereof and may be implemented in a computer system or other processingsystem. An exemplary computer system 400 is shown in FIG. 4. Varioussoftware embodiments are described in terms of this exemplary computersystem 400. After reading this description, it will become apparent to aperson having ordinary skill in the relevant art(s) how to implement theinvention using other computer systems and/or computer architectures.

Referring now to FIG. 4, the computer system 400 includes one or moreprocessors, such as processor 404. Additional processors may beprovided, such as an auxiliary processor to manage input/output, anauxiliary processor to perform floating point mathematical operations, adigital signal processor (a special-purpose microprocessor having anarchitecture suitable for fast execution of signal processingalgorithms), a back-end processor (a slave processor subordinate to themain processing system), an additional microprocessor or controller fordual or multiple processor systems, or a coprocessor. It will berecognized that such auxiliary processors may be discrete processors ormay be built in to the processor 404.

The processor 404 is connected to a communication bus 402. Thecommunication bus 402 may include a data channel for facilitatinginformation transfer between storage and other peripheral components ofthe computer system 400. The communication bus 402 further provides theset of signals required for communication with the processor 404,including a data bus, address bus, and control bus (not shown). Thecommunication bus 402 may comprise any known bus architecture accordingto promulgated standards, for example, industry standard architecture(ISA), extended industry standard architecture (EISA), Micro ChannelArchitecture (MCA), peripheral component interconnect (PCI) local bus,standards promulgated by the Institute of Electrical and ElectronicsEngineers (IEEE) including IEEE 488 general-purpose interface bus(GPIB), IEEE 696/S-100, and the like.

Computer system 400 includes a main memory 406 and may also include asecondary memory 408. The main memory 406 provides storage ofinstructions and data for programs executing on the processor 404. Themain memory 406 is typically semiconductor-based memory such as dynamicrandom access memory (DRAM) and/or static random access memory (SRAM).Other semiconductor-based memory types include, for example, synchronousdynamic random access memory (SDRAM), Rambus dynamic random accessmemory (RDRAM), ferroelectric random access memory (FRAM), and the like,as well as read only memory (ROM).

The secondary memory 408 may include, for example, a hard disk drive 410and/or a removable storage drive 412, representing a floppy disk drive,a magnetic tape drive, an optical disk drive, etc. The removable storagedrive 412 reads from and/or writes to a removable storage unit 414 in awell-known manner. Removable storage unit 414, represents a floppy disk,magnetic tape, optical disk, etc. which is read by and/or written to byremovable storage drive 412. As will be appreciated, the removablestorage unit 414 includes a computer usable storage medium having storedtherein computer software and/or data.

In alternative embodiments, secondary memory 408 may include othersimilar means for allowing computer programs or other instructions to beloaded into the computer system 400. Such means may include, forexample, a removable storage unit 422 and an interface 420. Examples ofsuch include semiconductor-based memory such as programmable read-onlymemory (PROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM),electrically erasable read-only memory (EEPROM), or flash memory (blockoriented memory similar to EEPROM). Also included are any otherremovable storage units 422 and interfaces 420, which allow software anddata to be transferred from the removable storage unit 422 to thecomputer system 400.

Computer system 400 also includes a communications interface 424.Communications interface 424 allows software and data to be transferredbetween computer system 400 and external devices, networks orinformation sources. Examples of communications interface 424 include amodem, a network interface (such as an Ethernet card), a communicationsport, a PCMCIA slot and card, etc. Communications interface 424preferably implements industry promulgated architecture standards, suchas Ethernet IEEE 802 standards, Fibre Channel, digital subscriber line(DSL), asymmetric digital subscriber line (ASDL), frame relay,asynchronous transfer mode (ATM), integrated digital services network(ISDN), personal communications services (PCS), transmission controlprotocol/Internet protocol (TCP/IP), serial line Internet protocol/pointto point protocol (SLIP/PPP), and so on. Software and data transferredvia communications interface 424 are in the form of signals which can beelectronic, electromagnetic, optical or other signals capable of beingreceived by communications interface 424. These signals 428 are providedto communications interface 424 via a channel 426. This channel 426carries signals 428 and can be implemented using wire or cable, fiberoptics, a phone line, a cellular phone link, a radio frequency (RF)link, infrared interface (IR) or other communications channels.

Computer programming instructions (also known as computer programs orsoftware) are stored in the main memory 406 and/or the secondary memory408. Computer programs can also be received via communications interface424. Such computer programs, when executed, enable the computer system400 to perform the features of the present invention as discussedherein. In particular, the computer programs, when executed, enable theprocessor 404 to perform the features and functions of the presentinvention. Accordingly, such computer programs represent controllers ofthe computer system 400.

In this document, the term “computer program product” is used to referto any media used to provide programming instructions to the computersystem 400. Examples of these media include removable storage drive 412,a hard disk installed in hard disk drive 410, and signals 428. Thesecomputer program products are means for providing programminginstructions to the computer system 400.

In an embodiment where the invention is implemented using software, thesoftware may be stored in a computer program product and loaded intocomputer system 400 using hard drive 410, removable storage drive 412,interface 420 or communications interface 424. The software, whenexecuted by the processor 404, causes the processor 404 and/or system400 to perform the features and functions of the invention as describedherein.

In another embodiment, the invention is implemented primarily inhardware using, for example, hardware components such as applicationspecific integrated circuits (“ASICs”). Implementation of the hardwarestate machine so as to perform the functions described herein will beapparent to persons having ordinary skill in the relevant art(s).

In yet another embodiment, the invention is implemented using acombination of both hardware and software. It should be appreciated thatmodification or reconfiguration of the computer system 400 of FIG. 4 byone having ordinary skill in the relevant art(s) will not depart fromthe scope or the spirit of the present invention.

While various embodiments of the present invention have been describedabove, it should be understood that they have been presented by way ofexample only, and not limitation. It is to be understood that thedescription and drawings represent the presently preferred embodiment ofthe invention and are, as such, representative of the subject matterwhich is broadly contemplated by the present invention. Furthermore, thescope of the present invention fully encompasses other embodiments thatmay become obvious to those skilled in the art. Thus, the breadth andscope of the present invention should not be limited by any of theabove-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only inaccordance with the following claims and their equivalents.

1. In a computer controlled data browsing apparatus having a display, auser interface and a computer-network interface, the computer controlleddata browsing apparatus being for use by a user and being capable ofbrowsing hyperlinked data, a method for data browsing comprising thesteps of: enabling the user to specify at least one characteristic formonitoring data requests; monitoring data requests generated via theuser interface and transmitted via the computer-network interface, saidmonitoring step performed such that, when a download of a data file,requested by a file request being one of the data requests, istemporarily delayed, the data file is identified as currentlyunavailable; backgrounding the download of the data file identified ascurrently unavailable in said monitoring step, said backgrounding stepoccurring automatically upon the data file being identified as currentlyunavailable in said monitoring step, and whereby said backgrounding stepenables immediate continued browsing of data already made observable bythe data requests; and making the data file available to the user viathe user interface once the download of the data file is completed. 2.The method of claim 1 wherein said enabling step further comprisesenabling the user to select to monitor all data requests in saidmonitoring step.
 3. The method of claim 1 wherein said enabling stepfurther comprises enabling the user to individually select which datarequests to monitor in said monitoring step.
 4. The method of claim 3wherein selection of which data requests to monitor is initiated byright clicking on a link associated with the data file to be downloaded.5. The method of claim 1 wherein said enabling step further comprisesenabling the user to determine which types of delays in downloading datafiles are considered temporary.
 6. The method of claim 1 wherein saidenabling step further comprises enabling the user to downloaddefinitions of which types of delays are considered temporary.
 7. In acomputer controlled data browsing apparatus having a display, a userinterface and a computer-network interface, the computer controlled databrowsing apparatus being for use by a user and being capable of browsinghyperlinked data, a method for data browsing comprising the steps of:monitoring data requests generated via the user interface andtransmitted via the computer-network interface, said monitoring stepperformed such that, when a download of a data file, requested by a filerequest being one of the data requests, is temporarily delayed, the datafile is identified as currently unavailable; backgrounding the downloadof the data file identified as currently unavailable In said monitoringstep, said backgrounding step occurring automatically upon the data filebeing identified as currently unavailable in said monitoring step, andwhereby said backgrounding step enables immediate continued browsing ofdata already made observable by the data requests; and making the datafile available to the user via the user interface once the download ofthe data file is completed, said making step including generating a newinstance of the user interface in which to display the data file ifneeded.
 8. The method of claim 7 wherein said generating step is notneeded if the user has created a new instance of the user interface aspart of the data request for the data file identified as being currentlyunavailable.
 9. The method of claim 7 further comprising the step ofproviding the user with the option to select to skip the step ofgenerating a new instance of the user interface for displaying the datafile identified as being currently unavailable.
 10. The method of claim7 wherein said generating step is needed only if downloading of the datafile identified as being currently unavailable is successfullycompleted.
 11. The method of claim 7 wherein progress of downloading thedata file is displayed on the new instance of the user interface. 12.The method of claim 7 wherein said generating step further comprise, thestep of bringing an original instance of the user interface to theforeground after the new instance of the user interface is generated.13. In a computer controlled data browsing apparatus having a display, auser interface and a computer-network interface, the computer controlleddata browsing apparatus being for use by a user and being capable ofbrowsing hyperlinked data, a method for data browsing comprising thesteps of: monitoring data requests generated via the user interface andtransmitted via the computer-network interface, said monitoring stepperformed such that, when a download of a data file, requested by a filerequest being one of the data requests, is temporarily delayed, the datafile is identified as currently unavailable; backgrounding the downloadof the data file identified as currently unavailable in said monitoringstep, said backgrounding step occurring automatically upon the data filebeing identified as currently unavailable in said monitoring step, andwhereby said backgrounding step enables immediate continued browsing ofdata already made observable by the data requests; and requesting thedata file in a continuing fashion when download of the data file istemporarily delayed such that additional data requests for the data fileare generated as needed.
 14. The method of claim 13 further comprisingthe step of making the data file available to the user via the userinterface once the download of the data file is completed.
 15. Themethod of claim 13 wherein said requesting Step is performed after aperiod of time has elapsed without a response.
 16. The method of claim15 wherein the period of time varies with a number of additional datarequests having been sent.
 17. The method of claim 13 wherein saidrequesting step further comprises the step of enabling the user toselect a maximum number of additional data requests to be sent in acontinuing fashion.
 18. The method of claim 17 further comprising thestep of notifying the user when the maximum number of additionalrequests have been sent without the data file being downloaded.
 19. Themethod of claim 17 further comprising the step of generating a newinstance of the user interface in which to display the data file whenthe data file is identified as being currently unavailable, andeliminating the new instance of the user interface when the maximumnumber of additional requests have been sent without the download of thedata file being completed.
 20. The method of claim 13 wherein saidrequesting step further comprises the steps of determining if the datafile includes discrete sub-elements, and if so, determining whichsub-elements have not been received, and generating requests for thesub-elements that have not been received.